Method and apparatus for applying and scanning markings on form sheets in typewriters,calculating machines and bookkeeping machines



March 3, 1970 R. LOCHER ETAL 3,499,161

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING AND SCANNING MARKINGS 0N FORM SHEETS IN TYPEWRITERS, CALCULATING MACHINES AND BOOKKEEPING MACHINES Filed Aug. 1, 1967 FIE.1 16

nnnV/iy/l Z 6 United States Patent 3,499,161 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING AND SCANNING MARKINGS ON FORM SHEETS IN TYPEWRITERS, CALCULATING MACHINES AND BOOKKEEPING MACHINES Robert Locher, Ernst Boegli, and Kurt Herzig, Bern,

Switzerland, assiguors to Hasler A.G., Bern, Switzerland, a Swiss corporation Filed Aug. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 657,594 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 4, 1966, 11,236/ 66 Int. Cl. G01n 21/30; G06k 7/00 US. Cl. 250-219 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus for processing sheet-material forms, particularly for use in ofiice machines and the like. A sheet-material form of predetermined thickness is advanced in a given path and selected portions of the form are compressed so that their thickness is reduced and their permeability to light increased. Subsequently the form is scanned with a light beam and a detector detects fluctuations in the intensity of the light beam passing through the form, which fluctuations occur as a result of the impingement of the light beam on the compressed portions. Upon such detection the detector generates a signal.

This invention relates to the use of form or tabulating sheets in typewriters, calculating machines, and bookkeeping machines, and more particularly to the preparation and handling of such sheets in the said machines to bring the sheet automatically in a predetermined position of use.

iDevices are known in typewriters, calculating machines, and bookkeeping machines, in which a form or tabulating sheet is adjusted automatically in such a manner that the next entry will be made on the line following the preceding bookings, and in which markings are used in order to shift the form sheet automatically to the next empty line after a booking has been made.

In such devices, during the return movement of the platen the operation of cutters is effected by which a strip of line spacing height is removed from .the side of the form sheet, or else a hole is punched in the side margin or edge of the form sheet. The resulting markings form a new stop for controlling the form sheet. The disadvantage of such markings is that they result in waste portions of card, which must be collected in containers in order to prevent them from causing trouble.

In addition, devices are known in which incisions or notches stamped in the form sheet are used as markings. The sensing means necessary for scanning such markings are however rather complicated and are not reliable in operation in all circumstances.

The present invention avoids the abovementioned disadvantages. It relates to a method of applying and scanning markings on form sheets in typewriters, calculating machines, and bookkeeping machines, which is characterised in that by means of local displacement of material by means of a stamp there are formed in the form sheet parts which are more permeable to light and which on passing a light source control a photoelectric component.

The apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention is characterised in that on one side of the guide passage for the form sheet there is provided a stamp which is held in the starting position by a compression spring and which, for example in consequence of the return movement of the platen, is thrown by means of a hammer against a support plate disposed on the other side of the guide passage and produces in the form sheet "Ice a part which is more permeable to light, and that opposite a light source on the guide passage there is disposed a photoelectric component, of which the reception of light from the light source is variable by means of the form sheet and its parts which are more permeable to light.

(The drawings illustrate diagrammatically one example of construction of the apparatus according to the invention, the parts not necesary for understanding the invention being omitted.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a section through the apparatus for applying the markings, and

FIGURE 2 a section through the apparatus for scanning the markings.

In FIGURE 2 the individual parts are illustrated on a larger scale than in FIGURE 1. In both figures the same parts are referred to by the same reference numerals.

Walls 11 and 12 form a guide passage 13 for a form sheet 14. Near the side edge of the form sheet 14 there is provided a bearing bush 15 made fast to the wall 11. This bush serves as a guide for a hardened stamp 16. The end of the stamp 16 facing the form sheet 14 has a conical extension 17, while the other end of said stamp is provided with a head 18, which serves as striking surface for a hammer 19.

Between the bush 15 and the striking surface 18 is provided a compression spring 20, which after the actuation of the stamp 16 urges the latter back to its starting position illustrated in FIGURE 1.

A hardened flat support plate 21 is inserted in the wall 12 opposite the stamp 16.

On each return movement of the platen (not illustrated in the drawing), the hammer 19 is actuated, for example by an electromagnet, and the stamp 16 is thrown in the direction indicated by an arrow in FIGURE 1 against the support plate 21.

When the stamp 16 penetrates into the form sheet 14 lying in front of the support plate 21, a depression 22 is formed (see FIGURE 2), and the end of the conical extension 17 impresses in the form sheet 14 (which has been inserted into the guide passage 13 for writing purposes), an area 23 which is more permeable to light, owing to local displacement of material. Around the depression 22 a local accumulation of material is simultaneously produced. The resulting local contrast in permeability to light in the form sheet is utilised, in the manner described later on, to control a photoelectric cell. This marking point or mar king points 23 is or are situated preferably ,near the edge of the form sheet 14.

In the apparatus for scanning the markings, there is provided in the wall 11 an electric incandescent lamp 24 serving as light source and, between said lamp and the guide passage 13 for the form sheet 14, is a diaphragm 25.

The light beam is limited by the diaphragm 25, which has an elongated opening 26. The shorter side (shown in the drawing) of the slit 26 bounds the passage of light in respect of height, while the longer side of the slit 26 enables the part which is more permeable to light still to be illuminated directly by the light source 24 even if there should be some lateral displacement of the form. sheet 14 resulting from some play in the guide passage 13.

Opposite the incandescent lamp 24 there is disposed in the wall 12 of the guide passage a photoelectric component 27, which on the passage of a part 23 of the form sheet 14 having greater permeability to light past the diaphragm 25, is controlled or actuated by the light beam.

The device for scanning the markings is situated with its diaphragm 25 in the guide passage 13 in the same alignment of the path of advance of the form sheet 14 as the front of the stamp 16 or of the support plate 21, and is normally in front of the marking device referred to the direction of advance of the form.

What we claim is:

1. A method of processing sheet-material forms, particularly in oflice machines and the like, comprising the steps of advancing a sheet-material form of predetermined thickness in a given path past a coding station and subequently past a sensing station; compressing selected portions of said form as the latter advances past said processing station, to thereby decrease the thickness of such portions and increase their permeability to light; directing a light beam against one side of the form at said sensing station; measuring the intensity of the light beam at the other side of the form; and generating a signal in response to detection of fluctuations in the intensity of said light beam which result from impingement of said light beam upon one of said portions of increased permeability to light.

2. In a marking and scanning apparatus, a combination comprising wall means defining a guide passage for advancement of a sheet-material form in a predetermined direction; compressing means operative for engaging predetermined portions of the form during advancement thereof in said direction, and for decreasing the thickness of said portions while concomitantly increasing their permeability to light; and detecting means arranged downstream of said compressing means and operative for detecting said portions as a function of their increased permeability to light.

3. In an apparatus as defined in claim 2, said Wall means comprising two spaced walls defining with one another said guide passage; and said compressing means comprising a die mounted at one side of said guide passage for movement transversely thereof between a retracted position and an advanced position in which it extends across said guide passage for compressing a juxtaposed portion of said form, biasing means biasing said die to said retracted position, and actuating means operative for moving said die to said advanced position against the urging of said biasing means.

4. In an apparatus as defined in claim 3, said die having a forwardly tapering engagement portion which engages and compresses said portions of said form in response to movement of said die to said advanced position thereof. i

5. In an apparatus as defined in claim 3, said detecting means comprising a light source provided at one side, and a photoelectric detector provided at the other side of said guide passage and in registry with said light source.

6. In an apparatus as defined in claim 5, said detecting means further comprising a mask interposed between said light source and said guide passage and being provided with a slot elongated transversely of said predetermined direction and in registry with said light source as well as with said detector so that light emitted by said light source can impinge upon the respective compressed portions even if the form undergoes slightv shifting in said guide passage transversely of said direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,931 9/ 1956 Schewe 1781 12 X 2,408,754 10/1946 Bush.

2,438,588 3/1948 Tolson.

2,518,325 8/1950 Hurley.

2,756,822 7/ 1956 Jones.

2,827,246 3/1958 Vanet.

RALPH G. NILSON, Primary Examiner C. M. LEEDON, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

